More Solar Lights To Consider
Linkind Outdoor Solar Motion Sensor Landscape Spotlights: This is a less expensive motion-sensing option with a simple streamlined design and several different modes to choose from. However, it fell short of the competition because it only lasted 4 hours and 9 minutes in our testing, although this may be enough for some people.
Frontgate Pro Series VI Solar Path Lights: If you’re willing to spend a little more, these path lights have an attractive design and produce 60 lumens of light. Unfortunately, they only lasted 3 hours and 20 minutes on a full charge.
So How Long Do Solar Lights Last
Generally speaking, the batteries in outdoor solar lights can be expected to last about 3-5 years before they will need to be replaced. The LEDs themselves can last ten years or more.
Solar lighting is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lighting sources. One of the key benefits of solar lighting is its long lifespan, which means that it can provide bright, reliable light for many years with little to no maintenance. In this article, we will explore how long solar lights last and the factors that can affect their lifespan.
Solar lights are designed to be durable and resistant to the elements, but like any product, they will eventually need to be replaced. The lifespan of a solar light will depend on a number of factors, including the quality of the product, the amount of sunlight it receives, and the amount of use it receives.
On average, solar lights can last for several years before they need to be replaced. Many solar lighting products come with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers defects and other issues for a certain period of time. This can give you an idea of how long the product is expected to last under normal use.
Why Trust The Spruce
Jenica Currie is the Associate Commerce Editor for outdoor, gardening, and home improvement at The Spruce. She has tested dozens of products at home and in the Lab, including artificial Christmas trees, clothing racks, bean bag chairs, fans, and vacuums. She spends her weekends gardening and working on other projects to improve the outdoor space around her home . For this article, she used our test results and researched dozens of top-rated outdoor solar lights to compile this list of the best available options. She also personally installed and is testing the Derynome Solar Lantern Outdoor Lights on her front porch.
Emma Phelps, an Updates Writer for The Spruce, provided research assistance for this article. She reached out to Sheva Knopfler, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Lights.com, to learn more about best practices for choosing, installing, and caring for solar lights.
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Best Solar Lights In 2022
These are the best solar lights for illuminating your yard at night
If you want to illuminate your backyard once the sun goes down, the best solar lights will transform your lifeless patio . They can add to the ambience wherever placed, and also keep your visitors safe when it gets darker.
But, with so many solar lights on the market, it can often be challenging to know which one is suitable for your home. First you need to consider whereabouts you want them located. Is it for a large, outdoor space, balcony or front porch? Ranging from ground lights, and path lights to decorative, string lights, there’s a design for every home. In addition, how easy is it to install and use? Most solar lights are simple to set up with little fuss.
We’ve selected the best solar lights to suit every backyard, lifestyle and budget. And if you want to spruce up your backyard on a budget, these awesome products are all under $50.
How We Tested The Outdoor Solar Lights
We researched popular outdoor solar lights of various styles and selected 27 to test in our Lab in Des Moines, Iowa. We also sent 18 wall-mounted solar lights to testers across the country to install on their own homes. Our testers evaluated each on a wide and thorough array of attributes that included ease of assembly and installation, feature set, brightness, durability, and value.
After putting them together, we let all the lights charge in full sunlight for the time specified in their instructions. We then took each to a dark room to run through all of their features, including any motion sensors and lighting modes and noted how easy it was to cycle through those. For lights with motion sensors, we had testers exit the room, wait 2 minutes, then re-enter and note whether the lights turned on without any prompting. Then, we evaluated each light’s brightness by attempting to read a book under it.
After our lab tests, we took them outside and evaluated how easy they were to install, when applicable. After making sure the lights were on the appropriate setting , we set up a video camera and recorded each overnight. We then reviewed the recording, noting when each light turned on and off and any anomalies.
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What Customers Are Saying#
Most customers were satisfied with their purchase, saying that the solar lights were well-made and easy to install. Reviewers also said that the lights elevated the look of their outdoor space. However, dissatisfied customers didnt like that the longer strand option had the same number of bulbs as the shorter option.
Benefits Of Solar Lighting
These outdoor lighting solutions are easy to install and maintain. One of the most convenient perks of solar lighting is that it doesn’t require hardwiring. Solar-powered house lights can be a lifesaver when access to electrical outlets isn’t available, too.
Solar lights for the house are:
Start by deciding how much light you need. If you’re looking for something subtle, accent lights are your best best. Accent lights come in a number of different styles. Solar path lights are a brighter option, perfect for lighting a path or driveway. Some can be staked in the ground, while other solar path lights utilize brackets or hooks so that you can hang them. A solar spotlight can be used to highlight something specific like a tree or garden sculpture.
A major advantage of using solar lighting outdoors is that they cost nothing to operate. Solar lights don’t require electricity for power, so this can save you money in the long term. The initial cost for a quality solar landscape fixture can be high, but this cost is typically recouped over time as you pay nothing in energy costs to run the lights.
Although solar lights get their energy from the sun, they still require batteries in order to store that energy for later use. Solar lights typically use either AA size NiCad 1.2 V / 500 to 900mA batteries or AA size NiMH 1.2 V /1000 to 2000mA batteries.
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Do Solar Lights Require Direct Sunlight
Solar lights can still work in indirect sunlight and on cloudy days, but they may not stay on as long. For best results, place your solar light in a location that gets several hours of direct sunlight each day.
“A good rule of thumb is eight direct hours of sunlight will produce approximately 15 hours of illumination, but it will vary depending on the exact light you have,” says Singleton.
Types Of Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lights are used for security purposes, illuminating pathways, decorating driveways, and lighting decks. The first step to choosing appropriate outdoor solar-powered lights is to determine the purpose. If you want something decorative, then appearances matter most. But if you want to light up a pathway, then you require bright focused LED lights to do the job.
Here are some of the most commonly used outdoor solar lights available out there.
Solar string lights or fairy lights
Ideal for decorating your outdoor space. Drape them along your deck or wrap them around trees to give your outdoor space a gorgeous appearance.
Solar deck, fence, or patio lights
Ideal for patios, staircases, and walls to subtly light walkways.
Solar post lights
Ideal for when you need a portable light such as camping or during power outages.
Security solar LED lights
These lights have built-in motion sensors, so the lights automatically turn on as soon as some movement is detected. Security solar LED lights are a popular option for security lighting around homes and offices.
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The 4 Best Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lights transform a dark yard into a bright one by converting energy from the sun into light. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the four best outdoor solar lights on Amazon to help you find the product thats right for you and your home. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
Solar lights illuminate your yard without the need for an electrical outlet or a short-lived battery. To help you find a lighting solution that works for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best outdoor solar lights on Amazon. Here are our top four recommendations.
How Long Do Solar Lights Stay Lit
If your outdoor solar lights receive enough sunlight for a full charge , they will be able to illuminate all evening, starting when the light gets low, around sunset.
However, the placement of solar lights can have a significant impact on their performance. In this article, we will explore some of the key considerations for solar light placement and how it can affect the performance of your solar lighting system.
Sunlight: Solar lights rely on sunlight to charge their batteries and provide light. Therefore, it is important to place your solar lights in an area where they will receive plenty of sunlight. This will ensure that the batteries are fully charged and that the solar lights are able to provide the maximum amount of light. The best location for solar lights is a south-facing area that receives direct sunlight for the majority of the day.
Shadows: Shadows can significantly reduce the amount of sunlight that solar lights receive. If your solar lights are placed in an area where they are frequently shaded, they may not be able to charge their batteries fully and may not provide as much light. To maximize the performance of your solar lights, it is important to avoid placing them in areas where they will be shaded by trees, buildings, or other structures.
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Where Should I Put My Solar Lights
Make sure to put your solar lights somewhere they are in full sun. This may sound obvious, but it is the only way to truly optimise their glow. If you know you want them in a dark spot, leave them out in full sun throughout the day and then put them in place when night falls. Dotting solar lights along a garden path is often the most popular choice, just make sure both sides of the path get enough direct sunlight, otherwise youll end up with a half lit walkway.
Battery Type And Capacity
It is recommended to choose lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries for powerful solar lights. These battery types have the highest capacity. Lithium-ion batteries are more expensive but they are small in size and have a longer lifespan. NiMH batteries are ideal for low-power lighting since they run for extended periods with a high capacity.
Bulb type
Although there are various types of lightbulbs available, LED light bulbs are the best option for solar lighting. They are energy-efficient and bright. They are durable and have a lifespan of up to 50000 hours allowing them to run maintenance-free.
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What Are The Benefits Of Solar Lights
These clever little lights have many benefits. The most important being that they are powered naturally, meaning they are much better for the environment than mains charged or battery powered lighting. They are also handy for gardens which have no access to plugs.
Sold on solar? Scroll on for our edit of the prettiest pieces available now.
The Best Solar Lights You Can Buy Today
Why you can trust Tom’s Guide Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Want to make your patio look like an outdoor bistro or Italian cafe? Brightechâs solar-powered string lights will do the trick. This string of LED bulbs are designed to look like retro Edison-style lights, which will cast a warm, gentle glow on your deck in the evening. The bulbs are made of shatterproof plastic, and are designed to withstand winds up to 50 miles per hour, as well as rain, snow, and temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. When put to the test, these lights delivered in every respect here enduring two severe rainstorms, one tropical storm, heavy rainfall in a shower and four hours in the freezer, with no sign of damage.
The 12 Brightech Ambience Pro lights are connected on a 27-foot cord, with 20 inches between each light. . At the end is a solar panel, which can be clipped to a railing or some other platform, or staked into the ground. Thereâs no ambient light sensor, but the lights last for up to six hours on a full charge. The lights also come with a 3-year warranty.
The Ring Solar Pathlight is the best solar light for anyone who has other Ring products, such as the Ring Video Doorbell. These lights provide downward-facing illumination for your walkway, have adjustable brightness settings, work with Alexa, and can send you notifications when they detect movement.
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No Electrical Connection Needed
Because solar landscape lights are powered by the sun, you do not need additional wiring or an electrical connection. Not only is this convenient when it comes to installation, but it also makes landscape lighting possible in far corners of the yard where electrical wiring isnt readily available. This also means you dont have to worry about accidentally severing the power source to your landscape lighting when you dig into the ground.
Light Brightness And Color#
A lights brightness is measured in lumens. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light will be. Additionally, light bulbs use Kelvin to denote their temperature, which we perceive as color. The higher the Kelvin rating a light has, the bluer it appears a lower Kelvin rating produces a redder light.
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Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at .
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team#
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at .
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Will Solar Lights Still Work In Indirect Sunlight
Outdoor lights work best when they have access to direct sunlight to charge for multiple hours during the day, which is how the manufacturers calculate battery life and runtime. They’ll still work on cloudy days or in areas with indirect light, but you might notice that they aren’t quite as bright or long-lasting. “It is a fact that energy storage is much better if it’s under direct sunlight, but solar lights can still work with rain or even snow,” Jameson says.
How We Tested The Best Solar Lights
We tested all of these lights over the course of a month at a coastal home in New England. To keep things consistent, we first unboxed all of them and left them outside to charge in various spots around the yard â in doing this, they would all receive the same amount of sunlight at the same angles. After a week, we placed each light in the freezer for four hours before dusk and then returned them to the yard to monitor which ones functioned as usual and how long they stayed illuminated. We also tested water resistance, rinsing each under a shower head for two minutes.
Following the initial tests, we installed each of the lights in appropriate positions to monitor how they stood up to various weather conditions. Over 14 days, each solar light was subjected to a tropical storm, hot and humid days, overcast days and rainy days. We monitored how well they stayed in place throughout.
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